Perry told a crowd of about 300 Republicans at the Lincoln Reagan Dinner of West Kentucky on Saturday night that Bowie was willing to give up everything for freedom. He says he hopes there are a new generation of young men and women that are willing to give up everything to change Kentucky.

One thing Perry does not want to change: Kentucky's senior U.S. senator. Perry endorsed Sen. Mitch McConnell, telling the crowd that the Senate minority leader would win re-election.McConnell is in a primary fight with wealthy businessman Matt Bevin.